Glad to see you got your camera problem straightened out. Your work you did last week looks fantastic. Good old Addison at market had those really neat old cast iron fence pieces. I am still thinking about buying at least one to put somewhere, but I sure don’t know where, because they sure are heavy. I really think they will look cool, when you place them on you oven. Just looks Italian for some reason with the grapes and leaves. Can’t wait to see your WFO when it is finished with the cosmetic work. It will be “one of a kind”.

good work Steve! that is looking really nice. are you planning a patio or some hard surface around your oven?

Yes, at some point I plan to build a patio, probably with cobblestone or some kind of pavers and maybe some trellises for grape vines. Funding is a major issue, being out of work for nearly two years now, so that will likely take some time to complete. It's really a small miracle I was able to build it at all. Thanks honey!

I saw that my chimney pipe was cracking, as I thought it might, so I've decided to replace it with Duratech double-wall stainless, insulated chimney, before I build the enclosure. The area on top of the vent isn't big enough for the anchor plate, so I'm going to cast a manifold to suit. I'm a little concerned about the "cold joint" between the arch and the new work, but I guess it'll be ok. I plan to drill some shallow holes and insert tapcon screws halfway in to help anchor the new casting. I'll also probably anchor the plate right in when I pour the cement.

One thing about the Metalbest that I really liked is that in addition to the twist-lock, they also include a collar you tighten down over the joint between pipe sections. The connection is very rigid.

How tall will the chimney be?

CL

Thanks for the info but I already ordered the chimney from FB. It should be here tomorrow. Too bad because it sure looks like Metal best has better prices, though it also looks like everything I need is out of stock.

Huh, I never even thought about cementing the pipe right in.

It's just one 36" section plus an 8" rise from the manifold I'm casting. It'll end up about a foot above the roof peak.

Your pies from your recent bake look delicious! Since I have been to your home before. and have tasted some of the formulas you have used. and also watched at what bake temperatures you had been trying, I wanted to ask you a few questions.

Did you lower the baked temperatures for your recent bake? If I remember correctly, the bake temperatures the last time I was at your home were around the range of 840-880 degrees F. Are you finding you like lower or higher bake temperatures in your WFO. I know at first you had started baking pies around 900-1,000 degree F. Also what formula and workflow method did you use for your recent pies? I guess you did use Pizzeria flour, like you normally do when you mix dough for your WFO. Did these recent pies have a moister and tender rim, than other formulas or bake times you have tried?

After a weekend detour to Wildwood and a visit to Macks Pizza, I finally got to pour my chimney manifold this morning. I'll leave the form on til tomorrow morning and let it cure the rest of the week. Then I'll start building small fires again to heat cure. It's kind of like curing the whole oven all over again, driving the moisture out slowly. I need it usable by July 23 for a 50 person party, but at least now I'll be able to work on the enclosure.

I got another nice chunk of work done in the last few days. New chimney, insulation, vermicrete, framing and siding. On now, to the roof. I'm actually still undecided on exactly what to do. I've noticed on Craigslist, there always seems to be used slate shingles for sale, pretty reasonably priced. That's probably what I'm leaning toward.

Thanks Steve. In reply #87, pictures 3 & 4, you show 2 different materials. Some tan colored material and then a sandy grayish material. Just wondering what the tan colored stuff is. Is that the vermicrete or the grayish stuff?

It looks like you have the grayish material sandwiched between a top and bottom layer of the tan stuff. Is that correct? Apologies for being so clueless here.

Thanks Steve. In reply #87, pictures 3 & 4, you show 2 different materials. Some tan colored material and then a sandy grayish material. Just wondering what the tan colored stuff is. Is that the vermicrete or the grayish stuff?

It looks like you have the grayish material sandwiched between a top and bottom layer of the tan stuff. Is that correct? Apologies for being so clueless here.

The tan stuff is fire rated insulation.

Logged

Arguing with a truckdriver is like wrestling with a pig in the mud.. After a while.... you realize the pig enjoys it!!!!

Chau, The tan stuff is thermafiber(aka rock wool and rotten cotton) insulation, over the new chimney manifold casting. The next shot is the same area, opposite side of the oven, covered with about a two inch layer of vermicrete. Not pictured is the same area, further coated with a layer of stucco base, as is the rest of the dome. The vermicrete only covers the vent area. The rest of the chimney is surrounded with only thermafiber.

Goose, Nice tractor! I have a Kubota ballcap that I picked up at a yard sale for a quarter.

I finished all the framing this morning. Now I'm ready for the roof, however, I still haven't decided what to use . I'll get the plywood up tomorrow, no matter what. I've decided to use two sections of the cast iron on each side. I think they look better in pairs.

I've gotten some more work done recently. I finally decided to go with shingles on the roof instead of slate. I also got the stucco finished and the chimney complete. I had to extend the outer arch to accommodate the thickness of the stucco. I added a 1.5" piece of brick all the way around. I cut a notch on every mortar joint side to help lock them in place. So far, the copper chimney cover is the only thing I didn't build myself. Next, on to the woodwork. I'm still thinking about the landing/counter. Probably granite, if I can afford it.